spengeman



Dec. 9,- 1930. E. SPENGEMAN TIMING APPARATUS Filed Sept.

15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 0 WIN 6 PEN6E/74N ATTORNEY;%

Dec. 9, 1930. SPENGEMAN 1,784,031

TIMING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR E0 wm/ SPENGE A N ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 9, 1930 v y V i '1 i i s'rATssfP ENT oFFics nwm sriiiieEMAir, or YORK,-1\T. Y.M i I riiviiive APPARATUS.

Application filed September s, 1928. Serial no. 305,637.

r The invention relates to timing apparatus a dial 18 is arranged to make one complete and has forits object to provide an appararevolution across the sight opening 11 in a tus of simple construction for automatically predetermined timed. period, and on that indicating successivefractioiis of a time peface which is visible through said opening riod, each of predetermined duration, and 11, is divided into a plurality of panels or' the sum total ofwhich represents a'predesectors 14, each containing an inscription termined time period. a The particular purappropriate to the operation of brushing the pose of the invention is to provide a dental human teeth'or other purpose for which the clock constructed and arranged to operate 'apparatusis designed. In the case of the it as a scientific combination tooth brushing dental clock illustrated-in the drawing, each to iiistructorand timer. Other objects will appanel or. sector 14: of the dial 18 contains pear from the description hereinafter and arrows 16, designating the directions in the features of novelty will be pointed out which the tooth brush is to be manipulated in the claims. a to produce the most efficient and beneficial In the accompanying drawings, which ilresults, itlbeing understood that these arlustrate an example of the invention without rows may be replaced by other designations defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a front elevation appropriate to any other operations which partly broken away, of the timing apparatus the apparatusimay be designed to time. To in the form of a dental clock; Fig. 2 is a provide the desired rotation of the dial .13, 530 rear elevation with the cover removed; Fig. it is fixed upon a shaft 17 journaled in a 3 is a sectional elevation on the line. 3-3 framework 18 of suitable form, and dimenof Fig. 2;'Fig. 4 is a detail view on an ensions and secured in the casing in'anyc0nlarged scale oftripping mechanism included Vement manner, as by means of screws or in the apparatus; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary the like 19. 7 section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig. Any suitable mechanism may be provided (S is a similar view on'the line 66 of Fig. l. 0 inte mi ntly m g the i 13 t0 In the drawings, the timing apparatus is bringisuccessive panels or sectors 14 thereof shown in the form of a dental cloclr, con- 111130 V e through h slghll p ing 11 a d t0 structed to operate as a combination tooth, use them to remain at rest in such position so brush instructor d ti d h i for for predetermined fractions of the time peso its purpose to teach the correct manner of mod during which the dial 13 makes one coniusing a tooth brush and the proper amount plete revqlutlon; dulflng such periods of rest, of time to be used in the brushing operation. the inscriptions 15 in the successive sectors While the novel timing apparatus is particuremain in sight through the opening 11, said larly adapted and designed for the above inperiods of rest being computed with respect dicated purpose, it is to be distinctly underto; the operations to which they are approstood that it may be used with equal facility priate, and in theillustrated example indifor other timing purposes, and the descripeating the duration of the various brushing tion and claims are to be construed accordsteps incident to a complete brushing of the ingly; I f I teeth. Inthe illustrated example, the mecha- In its illustrated form the timing apparanism in question comprises a clockwork 20, tus comprises a casing 10 of suitable diinenmounted in the frame 18 in any suitable mansions, and preferably of an ornamental form ner and arrangement, and driven by means of best adapted for the purpose for which it is a spring 21' arranged to be periodically intended; in any case the casing 10 is pro wound up through the medium of a winding vided with a suitably located and shaped key 22 and a winding spindle 28; for the pursight opening 11, and in the preferred form pose of bringing about the aforesaid interincludes a movable or removable cover 12, mittent operation of the dial 13, the clockfor instance, at the rear thereof. A movable work 20 includes whatmay be termed for indicating member illustrated in the form of convenience of description, a master gear 1 24, provided at spaced intervals with tripping devices illustrated in the form of pins 25 projecting outwardly from one face of said master gear 24, as shown in Fig. 6. The spacing apart of the pins 25 or their equivalent may be uniform, or the distances between different pins or corresponding devices 25 may vary in accordance with the purposes for which the apparatus is designed, andthe duration of the fractions of the complete tint ing period during which thedial, 13 or other movable indicating member is to remain successively at rest. are effective upon a linkage system which, in the illustrated example, consists of a main link 26, pivoted at 27 upon the frame 18, and an auxiliary link 28, pivoted at 29 upon said frame, these two links 26 and. 28 being con nectedby means of a second. auxiliary link 30, pivoted at .31 to the link 28, and at '32 to the link 26. To enable the throw or operative movements of the linkage system tobe varied the connectionbetween the link 30 and the links 26 and 28 may beadj ustable; in the illustratedexample this is accomplished by providing the link30 with a plurality of holes 30?. for the accommodation of the piv- 0t 31.. The main link'26 is continued in the form ofa projection or hook 34, whichextends into the path of rotation of the pins 25 or their equivalent, while-the auxiliary link 28 carries a pawl 35,.pivoted at s36.and. controlled bymeansofa leaf spring or similar device 37, whereby said pawl is permitted Wlll appear more in Fig.4, to arrest themovements of the links 26iand 28 in a return direction, to their normal positions; a spring 4lisconnected at one.

end with thelink 26 and. at its other end with the frame 18 for the purpose of returning the linkage system to, itsnormal position. The pawl 35 co-operates witha ratchet wheel 42,;fixed upontheshaft 17 to move wit-lithe dial 13.

In itspreferred form, the timing apparatus further includes means whereby the dial .13 or. its equivalent is locked in itssuccessive positions of rest, this means serving to definitely locate, the successive sectors 14 in proper registry-with the sight opening l'l. In the form shown in the drawings, the locking means in question is controlled by the aforesaidlinkage system and comprises a sli-ding cam 43, forming part of or carried by a slide 44, slidably mounted on the frame 18 and pivotally connected by means of a pin 33. with the link26, said pin 33 extending through a curvedfislot 33 formed in the frame 18,-as shown in 2. The sliding cam 43 is forked and straddles the reduced The tripping devices 25 portion 45 of a plunger 46, slidably mounted in the frame 18 and controlled by means of a coil spring 47, which bears with one end against the frame 18 and with its other end against the collar fixed upon the plunger 46. With this arrangement shoulders 49 are formed by the reduced portion 45 on th plunger 46 against which the cam 43 is effective to slidably saift the plunger 46 against the tension of the spring 47. For co-operatioirwith, said plunger 46, the dial 13 is provided with a series of spaced recesses 50 arrangedin a circle about the axis of rotation of said dial, and in the illustrated example, being formed in a member or boss 51, fixed upon the inner face upon the dial 13, or comprising an integral part thereof; if desired, a leaf spring 52 located on the frame 18 may bear against the face of the boss or member 51 to frict-ionally retard the rotation of the dial 13, and thereby prevent spinning or overrunning of such dial.

In addition. to the parts so far described, means is provided for automatically stopping the elockwork20 the end of each complete revolution of the dial 13, said means being capable of being manually operated at will to start said clockwork 20 ,in the form shown in the drawings, this means comprises a projection and a, co-operating aperture 54, with which the master gear 24 is provided for the-accommodation of the plunger 53, these elements beingso located with respect to each other, that the clockwork 20 will antomaticallybe brought to a stop at the end of one complete revolution of the dial 13. The projection 53 is spring controlled and is carried by a member secured by rivets or similar fastening means 56 to the frame 18, and maintained under a constant spring pressure tending to force the projection 53 into the aperture 54 means of a leaf spring 57; the manual means whereby the member 55 is actuated against the tensionv of the spring 57 to withdraw the projection 53 fromthe aperture 54 at will, comprises a rod 58 slidably mounted in the frame 18 and connected at one end with the member 55, and havingat its other end a push button 59 whereby operation of the parts is facilitated. A suitable stop 60 may be provided on the frame 18 for arrestii 5 the movement of the member 55 by the push button 59 and rod 58, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. v

To simplify the description, the operation of the apparatus will be set forth with re spect to the dental clock shown in the drawings, it being understood that the operative steps will correspond in other forms to the apparatus designed for other purposes. in the normal position of the parts shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, in which the dial 1 3 is in its initial position, the inscription on the sector 14, which is visible through the sight opening 11 reads Load tooth brush. hen

tooth *brush is loadedfwith a conventional tooth paste or its equivalent, and the apparatus is set in motion by pressing inwardly upon the push button 59 to thereby shift the member 55 against the tension "of-the spring 57 and withdraw the projection 53 from the aperture 54 of the master gear 24, it being understood that the spring 21 has previously been properlywound. As soon as the pro-- jection 53 is completely out of the aperture 54, the clockwork will start to run and cause the master gear 24 to be rotated in a direction whereby the pins 25 or their equivalent will successively act upon the linkage system in a manner to intermittently rotate the dial 13 in successive steps. In the specific apparatus illustrated, each pin 25 will suecessively engage thehook 34 and by exerting a lifting action thereon will pivotally move the main link 26 in an upward direction against the tension of the spring 41. This movement is transmitted by the Mix iliary link 30 to the auxiliarylink 28, which is correspondingly moved on its pivot 29; this upward movement of thelinkage system continues until a given pin 25 passes from beneath thehook 34 because of the continued rotation of the master gear 24. As soon as this occurs, the links 26, 28 -and 30 are pivotally moved downwardly back to their initial positions by the action of gravity assisted by the spring 41. As the upward movement of the linkage system takes place, the pawl 35 by engagement with a tooth of the ratchet wheel 42 will ride along said tooth and thereby be caused to pivotally swing on its pivot 36 against the tension of the spring 37 until said pawl passes above said ratchet tooth, whereupon it snaps into engagement with said tooth under the influence of its spring 37. As the pawl 35 is thus in engagement with the active face of a tooth of the ratchet wheel 42 when the return clownward movement of the linkage system takes place, it will be obvious that the ratchet wheel 42 will be advanced one step during such downward movement; this advance of said ratchet wheel 42 is transmitted to the shaft 17 and by the latter to the dial 13, and serves to bring the next successive panel or sector 14 into registry with the sight opening 11, and

- thus brings into view the inscription on this particular panel or sector 14. The inscrlption in question is appropriate to the next step in the tooth brushing operation, and remains in view during the fraction of the operative time period, during which the particular step in the brushing operation is to be continued. As the aforesaid upward movement of the link 26 takes place, the slide 44, because of its connection with said link,

will be correspondingly moved in an upward direction and thereby will cause the cam 43 to eXert a pressure on the shoulders 49in a direction to move the; plunger 46: against the tension of the spring 47 and withdraw said plunger 46 from the recess 50, in which it previouslywas located; The dial 13:is thus released forrotation, the operative steps in question being sotimed that this release takes place in time tov permit the dial 13 to be rotated-one step bythe action of the pawl 35 and ratchet wheel 42. As the linkage system isreturned to its normal position, theslide 44 and cam 43 are correspondingly moved down-s wardly to permit the spring 47 to forcethe plunger 46 into the next successive recess 50, whereby the dial 13 isagain locked'in position during the fraction of time 'in-which the next successive sector 14 and its inscription are in-registry with the sight opening 11. These operations are continued to bringthe successive panels or sectors 14 of the dial 13 successfully into View through the sight opening 11 and to maintainthem at rest'in such positions for the predetermined frac-I t-ions of the time period represented by one complete revolution of said dial. As each sector 14 becomes exposed to view through the sight opening 11, the tooth brush will be manipulated in the directions indicated by the 'arrow'or arrows 16;whichappear in suchsectors. When the dial 13 has made one complete revolution and the first sector 14 again comes into registry with the sight opening 11, the projection 53, under the influence of the spring 57, will be forced into the aperture 54 of the master gear24 and thus will aut-omati-,

cally bring the clockwork 20; to rest and stop theappa-ratus. i r I The dental clock in question not only properly times the tooth brushing operation in accordance with recognized standards, but graphically instructs the person using the apparatus in the proper brushing of the teeth. For this purpose, the mouth is divided into eighteen parts, each of which is represented by one of the panels or sectors 14 of the dial 13, and the inscriptions 15 in such sectors. Each sector contains an appropriate inscription 15 explaining how to brush the teeth and gums properlv, and remains in view A through the sightopening 11 long enoughto insure a scientific and thorough cleaning of the teeth; The sectors 14 are correctly timed and varyin their positions of rest in accordance with the mouth location to which they appertain. The arrows 16 indicate proper manipulation ofthe tooth brush to obtain the most efiicient and satisfactory results-inthe brushing operation As it is well known in thescience of dentistry that a clean tooth never decays and that gums with a normal blood circulation will not become diseased, it will be apparent that the dentalclock illustrated, and described herein provides a very useful and efiicient apparatusjfor guaranteeing propertre'atment ofthe teeth with the toothpaste or its equivalent and the tooth brush. Generally s'peaking,-the tooth brush and tooth paste or its equivalent are usedincorrectly and fortooshort ajperiod' of time,

With respect totheope r'ation of brushing the teeth, it will be obvious thatit'm'ay'be'used With equal -'efiiciency for other purposes.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims Without departing from v the spirit of the invention.

I'claim:

1; A timin a) ar'a'tus com ilSlIl a cas- .l b ing providedwith a slght opening, a rotat able dial movable across said opening, and

divided on its one face into a plurality of sectorsc0n'taining appropriate inscriptions, a

driven master gear, a'plurality of pins carried by said master gear and projecting from a face thereof at spaced intervals, a ratchet wheel connected With-said dial, a linkage system arranged to be intermittently operated by said pins, apawl yieldingly mounted on said linkage "system and co-operating with a said ratchet wheel to intermittently rotate said dial at predetermined intervals of a given time periodto bring the sectors thereof successively into View through said opening, a memberconnected with said dial and provided with a plurality of spaced recesses, a spring-pressed latch co-operating with said recesses to lock said dial against rotation whereby the sectors of said dial are successively maintained at rest in registry with said openingforpredetermined fractions of said time'period, acam-member operated by said linkage system'to withdraw said latch from said recesses at'the expiration of said fractions of the predetermined time period and means for automatically arresting the operation of said master gear at the end of said predetermined time period.

QIA timing apparatuscomprising a casing provided with a sight opening, a rotatable dia-l arranged to make one complete revolution across said opening in a predetermined time period, and divided on its one face into a plurality of sectors containingappropriate inscriptions, a driven master gear provided with an aperture, a plurality of pins carried by'said master gear and projecting from a face thereof at spaced intervals, a ratchet wheel connected With said dial, a link age system arranged to be intermittently operated by said pins, a pawl yieldingly mountmy hand.

EDWI N SPENGEMAN. 

